On average, a gasoline engine is capable of traveling at least 300 miles. Electric cars, on the other hand, max out at 100 miles on one single charge - except for Tesla's Model S, which can drive up to 305 miles.
While this means electric cars are capable of traveling the same distance, Tesla's offering costs USD $110,000. Fortunately for interested buyers, there has been a development in electrochemistry that could increase electric car ranges by 500 percent while lowering costs.
The Study
According to Seeking Alpha, a study was conducted by researchers from Cambridge University. Theoretically, their results could lower costs of a 1000 pound lithium ion battery from USD $30,000 to just USD $6,000 - a significant USD $26,000 difference.
In the case of the Model S, costs would diminish to just USD $86,000.On the other hand, the same initial cost os USD $110,000 could allow an electric vehicle to travel up to 1450 miles, without altering the weight and size of the battery.
Either way, the study could mean very significant changes to the capability of electric cars as they are now known.
The study itself rests primarily on the use of a lithium-air formula during battery construction, which is ten times denser than current lithium ion batteries. This density allows for more energy to be conducted and circulated during use.
Tesla Model S Popularity
Fortunately, Business Insider notes that the popularity of the Model S is growing. In fact, the publication claims that preference is shifting from the Model 3 to the Model S. While this could mean big things for Tesla, CEO Elon Musk has always said it that demand was never an issue. Rather, it is production constraints that have limited the production of the company. In other words, there is no shortage of people who want to buy an electric vehicle, but there is a shortage in supply - which could be solved in part by the research mentioned above.
